Jon Stewart mocked Donald Trump during The Daily Show after Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension over remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death. Here’s what Stewart said.
Jon Stewart has joined the growing list of late-night hosts mocking Donald Trump, this time in response to the fallout from Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension.
Kimmel’s show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, was pulled from the air after his monologue criticized Trump’s response to the tragic death of Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative activist who was shot dead at Utah Valley University on September 10.
Jimmy Kimmel Controversy
In his monologue, Kimmel mocked how Trump shifted from being asked about Kirk’s death to bragging about a new White House ballroom, calling the president’s reaction “like a child grieving a goldfish.”
The remarks triggered mixed reactions online, with some demanding Kimmel’s firing.
The Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest ABC affiliate, reportedly issued three demands for Kimmel’s reinstatement, alongside formal talks about “professionalism and accountability.”
Meanwhile, FCC chair Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, condemned Kimmel’s comments and suggested ABC and its parent company Disney could face consequences — even threatening broadcast licenses if they didn’t act.
Jon Stewart Steps In
Stewart, who usually hosts The Daily Show on Mondays, made a special Thursday appearance (September 18) to defend Kimmel — albeit indirectly.
He opened with a sharp critique of the government’s handling of speech:
“The First Amendment is now determined by how nice you are to the President. If that’s not enough, the FCC must be notified to threaten billion-dollar mergers of network affiliates.”
Referring to Trump as “our dear leader,” Stewart mocked the administration’s approach, calling it a thinly veiled attempt to consolidate power and silence dissent.
“Some people would say this is a cynical ploy… a smokescreen to obscure unprecedented consolidation of power,” Stewart quipped. “Not me, though. I think it’s great.”
He ended the segment by joking:
“We have another fun, hilarious, administration-compliant show,” before shushing the audience when they laughed.
Audience Reaction
Clips of the show quickly went viral, with fans praising Stewart’s return.
One viewer wrote:
“You know some real sh** went down when Jon Stewart shows up on a day that isn’t Monday.”
Another added:
“This episode was genius. They deserve the Emmy next year — if there even is an Emmy… or a network… or an America next year.”
